Must-see entertainment in Indonesia

  • Indonesia, Bali, Kecak dancers in ceremonial dress and make up

    Kecak Dance

    Bukit Peninsula

    Although the performance obviously caters for tourists, the gorgeous setting at Pura Luhur Ulu Watu in a small amphitheatre in a leafy part of the grounds…

  • Ramayana Ballet

    Central Java

    Held at the outdoor theatre just west of the main Prambanan temple complex, the famous Ramayana Ballet is Java’s most spectacular dance-drama troupe. The…

  • Sriwedari Theatre

    Solo

    The theatre in this vacant plot (formerly an amusement park now undergoing redevelopment) is the unlikely venue of one of the best shows in Java!…

  • Paradiso

    Ubud

    Sharing a building with the vegan Earth Cafe & Market, this surprisingly plush 150-seat cinema screens two films daily. The price of admission is…

  • Pura Taman Saraswati

    Ubud

    The beauty of the setting may distract you from the dancers, although at night you can’t see the lily pads and lotus flowers that are such an attraction…

  • Pura Dalem Ubud

    Ubud

    This open-air venue in a temple compound has a flame-lit, carved-stone backdrop and is an evocative place to see a dance performance. Different companies…

  • ASTI Bandung

    Bandung

    In the southern part of the city about 3km from the centre, this is a school for traditional Sundanese arts – music, dancing and pencak silat (martial…

  • Nautilus

    South Jakarta

    Nautilus is a bold, classic European-versus-Asian-bling drinking lounge at the Four Seasons hotel. Upon entering, you're drawn to the striking mural of…

  • Kinosaurus Jakarta

    South Jakarta

    Walk through the Aksara bookshop, then rub shoulders with Jakarta's artistic community at this hidden cinema, which hosts independent short and fringe…

  • CGV Grand Indonesia

    Jakarta

    If you've never had a VIP cinema experience, this is the place to do it. Gold class has a premium lounge, reclining chairs and waiter service (you can buy…

  • Taman Ismail Marzuki

    Jakarta

    Jakarta's premier cultural centre has a great selection of cinemas, theatres and exhibition spaces. Performances (such as Sundanese dance and gamelan…

  • Taman Rekreasi Senaputra

    Malang

    Malang’s cultural and recreational park has a hectically busy swimming pool and children’s playground and some quirky events. Kuda lumping (horse trance)…

  • Pacuan Kuda

    Sumbawa

    Horse racing is held at least four times a year, in April or May, July, August and December, at the Desa Panda horse stadium, 12km west of town on the…

  • T-Rex Family Karaoke

    Jakarta

    Despite the name, this is not a particularly family friendly place. Although kids are welcome, it can get pretty boozy. The dozens of private karaoke…

  • Rossi Musik

    Jakarta

    Those wanting to tap into Jakarta's underground music scene can head to this grungy venue which hosts local punk, metal, indie and hip hop gigs most…

  • Gelora Bung Karno Stadium

    South Jakarta

    Indonesia's largest stadium was completed in 1962. Since then it's had a few rebuildings and is presently used for football matches – especially by…

  • Asmara Art & Coffee Shop

    Yogyakarta

    It calls itself an art and coffee shop, but this split-level grungy venue is more like a restaurant and bar. Frequent live bands play here from 9pm…

  • K Meals

    Yogyakarta

    A fairly standard pub, but worth dropping in for the live music. Bands play from 8pm and feature acoustic music on Mondays, the Top 40 on Tuesdays,…

  • Padang Tegal Kaja

    Ubud

    A simple, open terrace in a convenient location. In many ways this location hints at what dance performances have looked like in Ubud for generations…

  • Ramayana Ballet Purawisata

    Yogyakarta

    Nightly traditional dance performances of the Ramayana at 8pm, which go on for around 1½ hours. You can dine here and watch the show (600,000Rp). To watch…

  • Upstairs Lounge Cinema Club

    Seminyak

    State-of-the-art screenings of new, classic, art-house and unusual movies in a comfy and small cinema. Admission is free with any food purchase from the…

  • Roy’s Pub

    Danau Toba

    The best nights out on Pulau Samosir are the Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday live-music nights (normally with local rock bands) at Roy's, a graffiti…

  • Bull Races

    East Java

    Sumenep is a centre for champion bull breeding, and on most Saturday mornings bull races can be seen at the Giling stadium.

  • War Horse

    Balikpapan

    Of all the waterfront restaurants on Ruko Bandar, War House is the place for live music, with a house band playing from 7pm nightly. There's plenty of…

  • Puri Agung Peliatan

    Ubud

    A simple setting backed by a large carved wall where excellent performances of Legong and the Kecak fire dance are staged. A free shuttle leaves the Ubud…

  • Metropole XXI

    Jakarta

    Housed in a historic theatre (the oldest in Jakarta), this plush cinema with gold trim is worth a visit. It shows Western movies in English. There's a…

  • ARMA Open Stage

    Ubud

    Hosts some of the best troupes performing Barong and Legong dance. On nights when there is a new or full moon, the Cak Rina trance and fire dance is held…

  • Sono-Budoyo Museum

    Yogyakarta

    Popular two-hour performances held most nights; the first half-hour involves the reading of the story in Javanese, so most travellers skip this and arrive…

  • Oka Kartini

    Ubud

    Regular shadow-puppet shows are held at Oka Kartini, which also has a boutique.

  • Ubud Palace

    Ubud

    Performances are held here against a beautiful backdrop.

  • Motion Blue

    South Jakarta

    Inside the swanky Fairmont hotel, this dark and cavernous venue hosts live jazz, pop, funk, world music, classical and more on a regular basis. You can…

  • TBRS Cultural Centre

    Semarang

    For traditional entertainment, this leafy park (a former zoo) holds wayang orang theatre performances every Saturday from 7pm to midnight, and wayang…

  • Aula Simfonia Jakarta

    Jakarta

    A huge and grand concert hall in a slightly removed location, this private facility is the work of Stephen Tong, a Chinese-American evangelist. The venue…

  • Saung Angklung

    Bandung

    Hosts enjoyable, if not entirely authentic, angklung (bamboo musical instrument) performances daily in a Sundanese cultural centre that also features…

  • Café Tisya

    Pontianak

    Warm Bintang (with ice) is served discreetly, and loud live music of the keyboard-and-singing variety emanates from the stage. Depending on the night it…

  • TIM XXI

    Jakarta

    Next to the Taman Ismail Marzuki centre, this inexpensive movie theatre shows the latest Western blockbusters in English with Indonesian subtitles.

  • Tunjungan 21

    Surabaya

    This large cinema complex, inside the Tunjungan Plaza mall, shows recent Hollywood releases in English as well as a massive array of Asian flicks. Good…

  • Studio 21

    Makassar

    Shows current Western films in their original language (with Bahasa Indonesia subtitles). On the top floor of the Ratu Indah Mall complex.

  • Taman Budaya Surakarta

    Solo

    This cultural centre hosts all-night wayang kulit (shadow-puppet) performances; private dance lessons are also available.

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